West Shore theatre takes on popular Disney film

That’s how the cast and crew are describing Four Seasons Musical Theatre’s production of High School Musical, which hits local stages this month.

In the 2006 smash hit Disney movie, which was later turned in a trilogy, Troy Bolton, the star athlete at a small-town high school, falls for nerdy beauty Gabriella Montez at a holiday karaoke party. Together, they try out for the lead parts in their high school musical, which causes division among all the school’s students.

“You’re going to get a high energy, polished show. These kids are really amazing, they’ve learned it so fast and they’ve got every movement down. The dancing is incredible,” director Sasha Moriarty-Schieven said. “These kids have insane singing voices. The whole show is family-friendly.”

Moriarty-Schieven said the musical offers the young cast a rare opportunity to show off their chops. With many Four Seasons productions, there’s opportunities for children and adults, but there’s a “teen black hole,” where many are too young to play the children’s roles, but are not old enough to play the lead, Moriarty-Schieven said. Of those acting in High School Musical, 27 of the cast members are between the ages of 11 and 18.

“They [teenagers] just end up in the ensemble over and over again. The reason I was excited about this show is because it stars them,” she said, adding most of the actors are from Victoria, Saanich, the West Shore and even as far away as Sidney. “I know these kids are going to blow everybody away.”

For 20-year-old Jonathan Hunwick, who plays Troy Bolton, the movies were a big part of his childhood and now, he’s excited to get up on stage and perform for a large audience.

“It’s very feel good. It’s something that your kids are going to be singing all the way home,” he said.

High School Musical opens at Oak Bay High with evening shows on Nov. 10 and 11 and matinees on Nov. 11 and 12. The production then moves to Claremont High, with evening shows on Nov. 17 and 18 and matinees on Nov. 18 and 19.